A/G Military Chaplins Report In

** A/G MILITARY CHAPLAINS CHECK IN

   Following are excerpts of a few letters sent from A/G Military
   Chaplains in Iraq to the A/G Military Chaplaincy National
   Representative Charles Marvin. Some notes are a few days old, some
   a few weeks old, but all reveal God's presence.

   Chuck:

   God has really protected our troops in the 173rd Infantry BDE
   (Airborne). They're the unit that jumped into Northern Iraq at the
   Bashur Airfield. They're working in the Karkuk area right now with
   Kurdish forces.

   Thus far, our unit only suffered very minor injuries from the
   jump. This is a miracle considering that approximately 962 jumpers
   dropped from the night sky on 26 March with full combat loads.
   There were no broken ankles, legs, or other mid-air collisions
   which could have been fatal. In my limited experience with
   airborne forces I would say that God had His hand all over our
   men. I can testify that our chapel community here was (is) praying
   really hard on their behalf.

   On the home front, the women in the chapel whose husbands deployed
   have done extremely well. I know there are a few outside the
   chapel whose marriages have not held up. But within our
   Protestant, Full Gospel, and Contemporary Service fellowships
   there has been remarkably good resilience in our families.

   Chaplain Chester C. Egert (Lt. Col.) US Army Deputy Chaplain,
   Southern European Task Force

   Sir,

   Activities last 20 days: daily Bible studies; safety prayers and
   sacred scriptures before all convoys crossing the wire; countless
   fox-hole sermonettes; 20 new Christian soldiers in the Kingdom;
   Chaplain's body, soul, and spirit is "green." Awaiting movement
   north.

   Chuck, all really is well here and am eatin' this stuff up. As you
   know, this is bread and butter time for chaplains. No specifics in
   this unsecured note but all goes well. Dusty all the time. GREAT
   food...3 hots a day for now. Sleeping on cots in desert tents.
   Showers every 10 days or so. No complaints though. Remember our
   Marines and Army up north. They've lost many. But regime change is
   imminent. PTL.

   Chaplain Ron Leininger

   Chuck,

   One of my infantry battalions was among the first to take
   casualties over here. Seven of my brave Marines were killed in one
   ambush, many others from that unit and others in company were
   wounded, several others were killed in other enemy contacts.

   We are busy honoring our dead. We conducted a memorial service for
   eleven last Sunday morning. We are busy providing comfort, praying
   for the healing of our injured, and proclaiming our Lord's
   glorious message of hope. But at the same time, we are rejoicing
   over the phenomenal accomplishments of all of our military over
   here. They really are America's finest, and I can't tell you how
   proud I am to be serving with them.

   Just a quick example: I spent nearly two hours with one of the
   survivors of hostile fire, a young Lance Corporal who barely got
   to cover before his vehicle was hit. Despite loss of his buddies
   and the normal response we expect from such a tragedy, he cannot
   wait to get back with his unit, and do it all over again. This is
   no warmonger, or someone out for revenge, he's just a brave
   American who wants to make a difference.

   Keep the prayers lifted. They are definitely working.

   In His Grip,

   CDR Jim Hightower Chaplain, U.S. Navy

   Chaplain Marvin,

   Greeting from the liberated city of An Najaf, Iraq!

   I had the opportunity to get access to the Internet through the
   82nd Division Main. A rare treat.

   Ministry has been fantastic, and we have been seeing Gods hand at
   work both in miraculous protection and salvations. We were talking
   about and sharing Psalm 91 to our soldiers months before we heard
   about the ultimate shield book.

   Anyhow, we have been here with our soldiers on the front lines. My
   battalion has stayed in the city of Najaf, have liberated it from
   the Fedayeen and Bath party, and basically secured it for its
   citizens. They are having local elections, are re-forming their
   police department, and on their way to living as free people.

   This is Shia Islam's holiest city. It is the burial place of Ali,
   one of Mohammed's last living relatives. His murder marks the
   separation between the major sects of Islam. Every year, the Shia
   mark his death with a festival or commemoration called Ashura. It
   invites public demonstrations, gatherings and ends with a foot
   march up to Karbala, the site of his death. Though we get mixed
   stories from the citizens and the few religious leaders I have
   talked with, they have been forbidden to practice this since 1978.
   When we announced that we not only supported their observance, but
   wanted to insure their safe pilgrimage, they were in shock, then
   absolute joy. Though I know their faith will not lead them to
   salvation, it blessed my heart beyond words to drive past
   thousands of these people marching to Karbala, chanting their
   prayers and waiving to us, shouting "Thank you, thank you."

   I know there is a lot of debate over why we are here. If I could,
   I'd like to take everyone of those cynical, shrill voices and
   silence them by seeing the people here. One look into the eyes of
   the children, the young teens, the women and many of the men would
   tell them why we are here. Not one of our soldiers doubts it. We
   have heard thousands of stories about the savage torture, death
   and imprisonment these people have endured. The rationing of water
   and electricity just because the Bath party felt like it, the
   death, and oppression was horrible. More times that we can count
   the people have told us, "Saddam has shattered us...he has killed
   us...we are no more...no hope." And you can see it in the adults'
   eyes. It is heart breaking. They look at us expecting our smiles
   to disappear and to turn our weapons on them. They are waiting for
   the charade to end. But thankfully, our presence is not a
   charade--it is real. And the children know this. They leap with
   joy, and give us thumbs up.

   The hope of this nation, its people, is in the lives of their
   children. If you could pass along a request to World Missions, get
   teachers, food, clothing, dentists, and other humanitarian efforts
   here ASAP. Work whatever angle is necessary. This is a place that
   needs them. I believe that our work here has the potential to open
   this nation to real Christian witness--in deeds, in actions of
   love. This is needed before they will ever hear the truth of
   the gospel.

   It is so sad to see generations of people who know nothing of
   love, peace, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. The looks of
   unbelief are turning to comfort. This brings some uncomfortable
   situations as I go on patrols with our soldiers (they are very
   insistent, begging, pressing for info, food, water), but these
   people really trust us now. God has blessed our battalion to have
   experienced this. Again I say, no one here wonders why we have
   come. I know the war has been more intense in other places, and
   less in some others, but for 1-327, the "Bastogne Bulldogs," We
   have seen a people and sacred city liberated and, with limited
   loss of life and property, seen it put back in their hands.

   I could say so much, but will end with this. That God's hand has
   been upon us is certain. I have baptized almost a dozen people,
   have seen atheists, Satanists and Wiccans come to faith in Christ.
   One soldier says that as bullets screamed towards him last week
   that they just stopped dead. Then he had a powerful encounter with
   the Lord Jesus who said, "I stopped these bullets, now will you
   serve me?" This young soldier came to church last Sunday--the
   first time in his life--stood and gave this testimony. I had the
   privilege of leading him to Christ after the service, and led him
   through a prayer of total renouncement of all his Wiccan ties. God
   is good!

   I am exhausted, wishing more mail like the rest, fighting off the
   flies, fleas, nasty dessert/powder dust just like the rest of our
   soldiers, but am having the time of my life!

   Oh, by the way, I'll take 715 of the Psalm 91 booklets. It will be
   a great follow up to what we have called Psalm 91. I call it
   "Operation Divine Overwatch" A daily prayer humbling ourselves
   before God, committing ourselves to one another trusting in our
   weapons and training, but knowing it is God almighty who protects
   and sustains us.

   CH (CPT) Stephen Pratel

   P.S. I can now tell you the difference between AK47/M94 rifle
   fire, exactly what an incoming mortar and RPG round sounds like,
   and God has given us wondrous protection, and enabled us to
   communicate the ever-present help and love of God. One soldier
   looked over his shoulder a couple weeks ago and said, "Man
   chaplain, you're everywhere...." I told him, "Just like the Lord."